It is impossible to speak of Malayaka House without speaking about the Aunties’ contribution and sacrifice to our cause. Their love and care brought our babies back from death’s door to complete recovery, and we owe them everything. Our Aunties are seven very special women who are the nurses, teachers, chefs, housekeepers, guardians, friends, role models and mothers to our children. They adore each and every child as if they were their own, something priceless to a child who has no other family to speak of.

As every mother knows, raising children is a tiresome and often selfless act, let alone in an environment established for recovering and rehabilitating sick and broken kids. The Aunties have the responsibility of bringing the kids back, both physically and mentally, and there is only one way of doing this, which is through love and compassion. Our team of “All-Star Aunties” has perfected the art. They have crafted a family that revolves around equality, friendship, and respect.

It is hard to imagine that one Auntie can put 20 children to sleep, in the same room, and succeed. The Aunties do this every day with a skill and expertise that has become renowned. When the Aunties go about their work they do not struggle or stress, even if a kid is flipping out and chaos is everywhere. The Aunties are calm, collected, and in full control. This makes it comfortable and less intimidating for our many wonderful volunteers to get

involved because not only are they caring for the children, young and old, they are also meeting the needs of our steady flow of guests and visitors.

Auntie Robina harvesting to cook up a storm!

Caring for the little ones is easy compared to managing our 15 teenage girls, but the Aunties have found their way with them as well, and they have done so by building strong relationships. Every child in the house depends on the Aunties to guide and counsel them through their problems. They are consistent, light-hearted, and peaceful, the ingredients that allow everyone to participate on their own accord. If an Auntie asks someone to do something, the task is accomplished whole heartedly and immediately. The kids work alongside the Aunties every chance they get, and because they are appreciated for their contributions, and efforts they always come back to help out the next time around.

Saturday Safari with the Aunties

Each of our Aunties was found in our local village of Lunyo, within walking distance of our home. Like many Ugandan women, they were all in desperate states, most with children of their own but unable to find work to support their family. They tried to depend on men to support them, but often that situation was not in their best interest, to say the least.

Laughter fills the day at Malayaka House!

The Aunties create their own rotating schedule, with two staying with the children at night. They manage this among themselves and work together to adjust it as needed. Their independence extends to their lives outside of Malayaka House, to include bank accounts, identification, and healthcare… benefits the majority of Ugandan women do not have access to. We pay them a competitive wage because they earn it, and then some. We wish we could pay them more. They are each the highest wage-earners of their households and are now able to support themselves, their children, and their extended families.

We hold our Aunties in the absolute highest regard. It is because of them that our children are thriving.

Sport is a big part of the day at Malayaka House. Whether it is a formal Rugby Team, a community-wide Football/Soccer Tournament organised by Malayaka House or cruising on skateboards down the driveway, kids will be kids–active, energetic and ready to run!

Malayaka House organised community sporting tournaments open to all youth.

Malayaka House takes pride in how our children blossom, thrive and continue to evolve and grow. Our older teens participate in vocational training, which provides them with many of the life skills to lead independent and empowered lives. More traditional, formalised education is enjoyed by the children as well, leaving a gap for more creative educational experiences which is filled at the house, often with the help of volunteers. These experiences are vital as it allows the children of Malayaka House to express themselves and link their formal education to traditional and non-traditional vocational experiences later in their lives. Art is important and fun!

Bobo’s Coffee, named after one of the kids with the brightest spirit & biggest smiles at Malayaka House!

Bobo is all smiles with this great coffee named after him!

Whole Bean Coffee Benefiting the children of Malayaka House orphanage in Entebbe, Uganda

Bobo’s Coffee is delicious! A smooth cup of coffee with notes of chocolate and ripe fruit. Bobo’s whole bean coffee comes in 1 lb bags and orders of 10 or more come with an original piece of artwork by one of the children at Malayaka House. No chemicals of any kind were used to make this coffee. These beans were grown under the shade of banana trees, at high altitudes in the Mt. Elgon region of Uganda. Groove Tea traveled to Uganda, toured the coffee farms, and even had dinner with the coffee farmers and their families. They were incredibly thankful and excited for the opportunity to partner with us.

100% of the profits goes directly to supporting the awesome children of Malayaka House. Order yours today!

Viola was the third child to arrive at Malayaka House. Fun loving, devoted and full of love, Viola one day hopes of becoming a pilot. She has always loved greeting volunteers at the airport and often made note of which way the wind was blowing as we drove by the Entebbe International Airport windsock. She had even had the opportunity to fly in a plane, which left her at a loss for words with excitement. She’s an amazing kids who has grown into a thoughtful, caring and bright young woman. Here’s to dreams! You can help make it a reality.